South Australian Ornithological Association (1899 - )

Summary

The South Australian Ornithological Association was founded in 1899, the first specialist ornithological society in Australia to focus on native birds. There were seven original members. From its foundation, the Association has had as its main focus the conservation and study of indigenous birds and their habitats, and to encourage interest in South Australian birds. Early activities included advocating the release of Cape Barren Geese on Kangaroo Island and leasing islands in the Coorong, both deemed to be safe breeding grounds. The first issue of the Association's journal, the South Australian ornithologist was published in 1914. Dissention among members in the late 1950s caused a split in the Association over the issue of the promotion of legislative protection for rare and endangered fauna. Disaffected members formed their own organisation, the Adelaide Ornithologist's Club. The Association is connected with other conservation organisations: it participates in the Conservation Council of South Australia; was active in the formation of the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia in 1962; and in 2018 became affiliated with Birds Australia (later BirdLife Australia). The "common name" Birds SA was adopted in 2001.

Details

The seven foundation members were: Edwin Ashby; John W. Mellor; Alexander M. Morgan; M. Symonds; S. A. White; A. H. C. Zietz; and F. R. Zietz.

Publications of the Association include:
South Australian ornithologist (0038-2973) vol. 1 (1914) -
South Australian Ornithological Association newsletter no. 1-263 (1959 - 2015)
Birds SA Newsletter "the Birder" no 264 (2016) -

Related entries

Published resources

Edited Books

• Collier, Roger; Hatch, John; Matheson, Bill; Russell, Tony ed., Birds, Birders and Birdwatching 1899-1999: celebrating one hundred years of the South Australian Ornithological Association (Adelaide: South Australian Ornithological Association, 1999), 244 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Crompton, R., 'History of ornithology in South Australia', South Australian ornithologist, 1 (1) (1914), 5-11. Details